Starting My First Tour During A Pandemic

It’s so funny how something that didn’t exist months ago suddenly affects every aspect of your life.

I remember when the whispers of Co-vid 19 became louder and louder.

It was March and I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and stressed, if I were to be honest.

I was getting ready for my Portuguese exam, trying to coordinate logistics for my move to Brazil, and saying goodbye to family and friends. Life was moving a mile a minute.

Then suddenly, the wheels on the train of life came to a screeching halt. My Portuguese exam was postponed, and I found myself telling loved ones I wasn’t sure when I would be on the beaches of Rio.

It’s almost been three months since I began teleworking.

I feel really blessed because I’m still getting paid to learn Portuguese. I took my Portuguese test and I’m now in maintenance classes. To read more about my language classes in the Foreign Service, click here.

In the afternoon, I usually have virtual meetings with the consulate. Although I haven’t stepped foot in the consulate, I feel really fortunate to be apart of team Brazil. The leadership and my colleagues are top-notch. I’m only a first-tour officer, but they have virtually welcomed me and other first tour officers (still in the United States) with so much grace and class. I already feel apart of the community.

Outside of work, I’ve been trying to practice self-care. Being in the midst of a pandemic is no joke. On top of that, making sense of the news, especially the situation regarding George Floyd is exhausting. So, I’ve been trying to sleep more, exercise, drink a ton of water, read (fun books), and blog. These activities help me to build resilience with everything that is going on.

I’ve also been journaling. This has helped keep life in perspective during this pandemic. To read about the importance of journaling, check out the post I wrote here.

In Case You’ve Missed It, Check Out

How I Landed A Job In International Affairs 
My Experience As A Rangel Fellow
Information About The Foreign Service